Sri Kumaran Public School follows the curriculum mandated by the Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations for Classes VIII to X. (CISCE). The curriculum aims to provide pupils with a well-rounded, broad-based education that will enable them to flourish in higher classes and further studies. It prepares students for the rigours of competitive and entrance exams in order to place them in prestigious schools and universities. It also gives them the capacity to deal with life's challenges and grow into confident and skilled persons. We employ the latest teaching methods and learning avenues to the needs of modern day education are met.
The following are the subjects that students in Classes IX and X have to study:
Group III Electives are application-based subjects, introduced by CISCE for Classes IX and X, that encourage logical thinking in children. The elective subjects that our school offers are Computer Applications, Economic Applications and Physical Education.
Our goal is to enlighten our students' minds and improve critical abilities such as autonomous intellectual thinking, teamwork, leadership traits, creative expression, time management, outside-the-box thinking, and public speaking, among others. While teaching, we take into account each student's learning pattern - visual learners, auditory learners, and kinesthetic learners. Teachers in the schools receive frequent training and workshops to stay up to date on the latest teaching approaches that match the needs of modern education. Our teachers help each student realise their greatest potential.
English is the medium of instruction and also the First Language for high school students. They have the option to choose Kannada, Hindi, Sanskrit and French as their Second Language.
As our students prepare for board exams, we must assess them using the boards' bench marks. They take exams based on ICSE pattern question papers to receive plenty of preparation, and their readiness is evaluated throughout the academic year. Timely classroom assessments and revision sessions are held to assess students' learning, understanding, and retention of concepts.
Students undergo the following methods of assessment:
During the academic year, three tests and two exams are conducted. Promotion to the next class is based on continuous evaluation of their performance in all tests and exams administered throughout the year.
The weightage is as follows:
Students are promoted based on their cumulative performance level, as mentioned above. A student is promoted with only when they score an aggregate of 40%. A minimum of 35% in each subject in the annual examination is required by the school policy for promotion to the next class.
Through timely classroom evaluation and review sessions, students are thoroughly prepared for their board examinations. Class X students are given a series of tests and review tests to assess their learning, comprehension, and retention and to prepare them for their board exams. Two preparatory examinations covering the whole syllabus are also held.
The ICSE has incorporated internal assessment through project work as an integral aspect of the curriculum, with a weightage of 20% of the total evaluation. This is evaluated using numerous criteria that attempt to determine the student's capacity to write, understand the subject, imagination, creativity, presentation skills, speaking abilities, inter-personal and intra-personal skills.
The key objectives of the internal assessment are:
Project work involves using continuously evolving innovative measures that make both teaching and learning meaningful and comprehensive. It includes various methods like report writing, discussions, debates, role play, interviews, case studies, analysis, demonstrations, and assignments. To complete their projects, students collect information, photographs and other materials and compile them under the guidance of their teacher. The project topics are announced in advance. The students must submit the project to the concerned teacher within a stipulated deadline in class to be evaluated.
The Sri Kumaran Public School boasts of a library that supports the learning needs of students of all ages. For high school students preparing for their boards, it provides a wide range of relevant books that can help them prepare better. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Languages, Physical Education, Philosophy, Education, Psychology and Religion are all genres of books that can be found in the library. If students need a break from the feverish preparations for their boards exams, they can also choose from a range of fiction to read at leisure.
Not just books, the library serves as repository of information because of the collection of other media it houses. It is an access point for maps, prints, documents and works of art on various media such as audio tapes, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, and DVDs. This benefits both the teachers and students as they are able to find relevant information that is required to enhance learning. Teachers also regularly visit the library to refer to periodicals, dailies and books.
The library is also the focal point of several literary activities such as ‘World Reading Day’. A yearly bookfair held yearly also gives the opportunity for students to find age-appropriate titles that broaden their horizon.
The Physics, Chemistry and Biology Laboratories are used extensively by teachers to enhance practical learning especially for students preparing for board exams. The labs are well-equipped and provide a safe space for students to carry out experiments on topics that they are learning in class. These practical experiences help students retain what they learn and apply the concepts better during exams.
Classes IX and X are strictly follow CISCE-prescribed projects and experiments. Each class is usually taken to the library in three batches. Each batch is allotted time at the physics, chemistry and biology lab on a cyclical basis. Each lab session is the duration of two consecutive periods of the school day.
Key functions and features of our laboratories:
The biology lab is one of three labs that help students supplement their theoretical understanding with hands-on experience. It is equipped with slides, models, specimens, charts, and numerous other devices that meet the ICSE curriculum requirements. The majority of the experiments are related to plant and animal morphology and physiology. Seasonal flowering plants, vegetables, fruits, and seeds are also included in the requirements.
Students experience real-life phenomena and have the ability to put their theoretical studies and learning into action in the physics lab. Laboratory activities are an essential tool in education that offers meaningful learning. Observation, manipulation, experimentation, and interpretation are all elements of physics lab work.
Students can put their chemistry theories and principles to the test in the chemistry lab. It instils in them a scientific mindset and piques their curiosity. Experiments recommended by the ICSE syllabus are carried out in Classes IX and X. They identify gases and detect the presence of cations and anions in specified compounds. They also determine whether the given solution is acidic or alkaline, as well as the pH of the solution.
Computers have become indispensable in all aspects of today's automated world. Our curriculum is designed to keep up with the latest technology while also preparing students for future technological advancements. Students of Classes IX and X who choose Computer Applications as an elective course are introduced to the Object-Oriented Programming through the use of Java. The computers in the Laboratory are linked through LAN. Each system includes a minimum of 4GB RAM and Intel Pentium Dual-Core processors. Students are given the opportunity to explore the world of IT outside of the curriculum. We also encourage students to engage in TCS quizzes and other Inter-School IT events to increase competency. The yearly school IT fair lets students exhibit what they have learnt during the academic year.
We believe that students of all ages should acquire life skills in order to become better people and grow in a healthy manner. We collaborate with Arpitha Associates on the EQUBE programme to help students gain important life skills that will benefit them in the future. The primary goal of this project experience is to put the EQUBE learning on personal vision and values into action. It also seeks to determine whether children are learning and progressing toward becoming self-sufficient individuals with greater clarity and purpose in dealing with life.
The life skills programme culminates with letting students in Class X to participate in a Social Action Project (SAP) of their choice and submit their findings. A certificate of completion for EQUBE and SAP is awarded.
External examinations give students and teachers an objective perspective of how the students perform at three levels: school, state, and national. They provide pupils, particularly those in higher classes, a glimpse of what it's like to take competitive exams. It provides students with a healthy sense of academic competitiveness and how they compare to students from other institutions. Students can also practise and improve their application abilities, as well as develop confidence.
For almost a decade, students of Sri Kumaran Public School have taken numerous external examinations. Participation also benefits in the acquisition of knowledge in Math and Science. Participants are ranked based on their marks. Some of the exams our students have taken include the International Assessments for Indian Schools, National Mathematic Talent Contests, National Talent Search Exam, ASSET, and KISA. Sri Kumaran Public School is proud that several of our students excelled in these exams.
Special assemblies are organised on a regular basis to commemorate special occasions such as Kannada Rajyotsava, Hindi Diwas, World Environment Day, and Vishva-Samskrita-Dinam. Students prepare special presentations for all these events, such as speeches, skits, and songs, with the assistance of teachers. Through these assemblies, students learn about the environment, culture, and historical importance. The presentations made by students are extremely informative. In order to maintain tradition, we conduct Kannada Rajyotsava in Kannada and Hindi Diwas in Hindi.
Environmental preservation and conservation are frequently discussed at these special assemblies. Students deliver speeches on a variety of subjects, including wastage, eco-friendly festival celebrations, and composting, to raise awareness among their peers about the significance of caring for our environment.
The International Award For Young People is a programme that began in the United Kingdom in 1962 that encourages students to learn new skills, go on new adventures, and make new friends. It allows enterprising students to win an award without adding to their already hectic schedules ahead of the board exams. The award's concept is one of individual challenge, providing young people with a balanced, non-competitive schedule of volunteer activities that promote personal discovery and progress, self-reliance, tenacity, duty to themselves, and community service. Students in Class IX participate in this programme. Those who do participate are expected to follow requirements in a non-competitive way while striving for success, either individually or as part of a team.
Our school believes in preparing our students not just for academic success but also for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter in in the rapidly evolving world beyond the classroom. With this vision in mind and as per the mandate of the NEP and CISCE guidelines, we are happy to introduce Financial Literacy classes to our class IX students.
This program would be conducted by the team of OSAT Knowledge Pvt. Ltd. founded by renowned investor Dr Balaji Rao and supported by Mr Giri Balsubramanian.
The vision of the company is to impart knowledge beyond the ordinary that empowers people to make informed investment decisions
Sporting events are an important component of school life for a reason. It not only provides a break from the routine of academic studies, but it also provides students with the opportunity to improve their physical and mental fitness. Sports is encouraged even in higher classes, as mandated by the ICSE. Playing any sport has been shown to be useful for learning perseverance, the value of teamwork, and personal growth. It also instils values such as self-esteem, punctuality, discipline, responsibility, accountability, and sacrifice. The advantages of participating in sports as a youngster often lasts for a lifetime. According to research, participating in sports at a young age can protect one from a variety of ailments.
At the Sri Kumaran Public School there are several sports that are taught during school hours, and even outside of school hours for those who are interested.
Students in Classes V to X are trained in the following sports activities during school hours and after class hours for those who are part of the school team:
Students from Classes V to X who are chosen for school teams receive after-school training in the following sporting activities:
Aside from these, students in Classes V to X are offered the opportunity to participate in sports activities of their choice after school. Among these paid sports activities are:
Yoga as a discipline has numerous demonstrated benefits for the human body at all ages. We have included it in our school curriculum so that our students can benefit from it. Yoga improves strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. To refresh our students' minds, we hold 15-minute pranayama and meditation sessions every other day during assembly.
Learning the arts not only brings joy, but it also encourages students to think critically, to be more observant, and to calm their minds. The visual arts play an important role in helping youngsters learn new abilities and express themselves through various mediums. Art and craft are compulsory subject that students enjoy participating in. They come up with innovative ideas as they participate in drawing, painting, collage making, and pottery.
Various competitions, such as collage, hand painting, puppet making, mask making, and poster making, are held and judged as part of co-curricular activities. The cover pages of notebooks and the school magazine are designed by students in Classes VIII and IX. Students interested in Art & Craft are encouraged to work with various materials during Hobby Classes, and the finished products are eventually showcased for an exhibition at the end of the academic year.
Students in Classes VIII to X participate in KMUN, or the Kumaran Model United Nations. Students take on the role of diplomats representing a specific country and participate in mock sessions of the United Nations such as the General Assembly, Security Council, or any other Committee. It enables them to be aware of current international affairs, understand different the foreign policies of different countries, and their diplomatic connections with one another. This gives them the opportunity to use their speaking, debating and learships skills while also being a fun way of learning.
Our annual literary festival, Kalakumbh, is an exciting event that students of all classes look forward to. It is a platform to showcase their talents and abilities while also having a lot of fun with their peers.
The funfilled two-day event encourages children to build a sense of healthy competition and camaraderie. It encourages students to use new ways and to improve their ideas and skills as they participate in various events. Individual and group competitions such as creative writing, debates, antakshari, cookery, quiz, arts and crafts, singing, group dancing, dumb charades, and plays are held for students. As a mark of appreciation, winners get prizes and certificates.
The colourful bulletin boards that line the corridor walls of the Sri Kumaran Public School are a peek into the current “happenings” in the school. They are themed and colourful that make them visually appealing to all the students. They exhibit information on a variety of topics, including current events, noteworthy dates, and the artistic abilities of House members. They are another opportunity for the students to creatively express themselves. The boards are maintained by teachers and by the different school Houses.
The cover of the school magazine Gnanamanthanam features a drawing by students each year. The annual theme-based drawing competition is open to all students from Class IV to X, and the winner is displayed on the cover page. Aside from that, students are invited to submit their drawings and sketches, with the best of them being printed as the cover page of drawing books, notebooks, school diaries, and teachers' diaries that will be used by students in the upcoming school year.
SEEK or the Students Editorial Entity of Kumaran's is in charge of everything related to the school magazine. Each year, the editorial board of SEEK conceptualises, plans, and executes the magazine's publication. Students who participate in SEEK have the opportunity to learn new skills and get new experiences while working on the magazine. All of our students are encouraged to submit artwork, articles, and writeups about pertinent themes for publication in the magazine.
The Reap Benefit programme is one of the Hobby Classes available to pupils in Classes VII and VIII. We have collaborated with the non-profit organisation called Reap Benefit, that conducts the programme, to educate youngsters on civic and environmental issues. As part of this programme, we conducted research to determine how much water the school uses and how much may be saved. For this purpose, DIY aerators have been installed. Our students are also developing a spittoon prototype to solve the problem of spitting on Bangalore's roads.
The program's goal is to identify problems in local communities and then devise solutions to those problems. Typically, the problem is solved by the use of technology and mobilisation. Online seminars on topics such as recycling and food insecurity are held for the benefit of our students.
As even the most advanced countries are struggling to deal with waste, it is imperative for our students to learn segregation from a young age. This is a habit that is instilled in them as early as in nursery school and is then practiced and carried forward throughout their lives. The school has put in place different coloured waste bins so that children can use them to segregate and dispose paper, plastics, and food waste.
The best way to learn anything is to first create awareness. Our special awareness programmes on environmental issues and sustaibable living teach students to be conscious of their carbon footprint and to take care of their environment. Regular speeches by students during the morning assembly seek to create awareness and imbibe a sense of responsibility. Water conservation and composting, as well as adopting eco-friendly materials to celebrate festivals, are among the issues highlighted in the awareness seminars.
The school organises excursions for all classes from IV to X. As part of their educational travels, high school students visit historical sites such as Talkaad, Somnathpur, Belur, and Halebidu. This helps them in gathering information for their projects, which are an important component of their curriculum. In the process they also get visual and real-life experiences to support what they learn in the classroom.
Travelling is one of the best forms of learning and self-discovery aside from taking a break from the monotony of daily life. The Sri Kumarans Public School has in collaboration with Woody Adventure conducts trips to provide the exciting opportunity of exploration to its students. Outward bound trips are voluntary and are scheduled during holidays or weekends. It is available to all students in Classes I to X. These trips include activities such as trekking, mountaineering, camping, and water sports.
Field Trips are an essential part of education as it provides a scope to learn through new experiences. Every year, a field trip to the Vidhana Soudha is organised to give high school students a firsthand experience of a working democracy. Students attend both the Vidhan Parishad and the Vidhan Sabha to observe the proceedings, an experience they cherish very much.
Social responsibility must be instilled in children from an early age. Giving back to society is something we take seriously at Sri Kumaran Public School and want to instil that in all of our pupils. Social service not only provides students with fulfilment and satisfaction, but it also teaches them empathy, gratitude, teamwork, and cooperation.
The school's service wing works strives to provide our students opportunities for community service. The teachers in charge of the service wing prepare activities for the students throughout the school year. As part of the programme, students are taken to NGOs such as the Sri Ramanashree Academy for the Blind. The students go to the garden and factory, which are cared for by visually impaired students. Our students learn how the visually impaired students are trained to become independent and are taught various skills like dancing and computer science. They interact with these students and understand how they learn different subjects. Our students also meet with students from a nearby government school and present programmes on socially relevant topics to them. The service wing engages in a variety of initiatives to assist the less fortunate in whatever way possible.
Seva Day is our way of honouring the spirit of one of our former directors, Smt Meenakshi Balakrishnan, on her death anniversary, October 1st. She was a visionary who strongly felt that in order to be better human beings, we must give back to society. She was affectionately referred to as "Mother." Her motto was "service to man is service to God." The school continues to seek to instil this value in all pupils in order to carry on her legacy. As part of Seva Day, students carry out acts of service such as cleaning their classrooms and surroundings. Student representatives also serve food to all of the school's support staff to show their appreciation for their dedication and hard work. Students also collect old newspapers from their homes and neighbourhoods to give to an NGO that converts them into notebooks in collaboration with ITC. These notebooks are donated to the less underprivileged.
Pupils from the Service Wing collect old clothes, storybooks, toys, and stationery to donate to orphanage students. Throughout the Annual Examination, they place Notebook Drop Boxes at various spots. Students who desire to submit their used notebooks after the exam may do so. The students collect and bind all of the unused pages from these books. They also take donations in the form of stationery. Teachers make contributions in kind to these donation drives.
School Day, which is celebrated every two years in November, is an exciting event in which students' parents and family members attend to watch them perform. The event gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and skills through plays, dance-dramas, musicals, songs, instrumental music performed by the School Choir, and dancing. Students learn to overcome their apprehensions about being on stage and performing in front of a large audience.
Students practice and train for the School Day performances, which usually have an overarching theme. Teachers encourage all students to participate and make sure that everyone has a part to play in the event.
The Sports Day one among the many annual events held at the Sri Kumaran Public School. The highlights of the day include performances by the school band, drills and presentations by primary and middle school students, and inter-house sporting activities. Prior to the Sports Day, inter-house competitions in various sporting events such as cricket, football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and table tennis are held. The winning teams are presented with trophies on Sport Day.
The Sri Kumaran Public School's Head Boys and Head Girls are chosen through a rigorous democratic process. Students in Class X can run for Head-Boy, Head-Girl, and Captain, while students from Class IX can run for Assistant Head-Boy, Assistant Head-Girl, and Vice-Captain. Students who want to run for these positions file nominations, which are followed by rigorous canvassing. Students canvass for votes in the Assembly, as well as in the corridors, canteens, and school buses. On Election Day, students of Classes VI to X vote for and elect their leaders. The entire election process is a time of great bustle and enthusiasm in the school, culminating on Investiture Day. Teachers nominate the Prefects for Classes IV and V. On Investiture Day, the new Student Committee, SEEK Editorial Board, and Prefects for Classes IV and V are installed.
Class X students say their ceremonial farewells on this day, which is a bittersweet occasion. The management and all of the staff at Sri Kumaran Public School wish the students success not only in their upcoming Class X board exams, but in all of their future endeavours. The students commit to uphold Kumaran's values and vision, and to rise above the constraints of their individualistic concerns to the greater concerns of all of humanity.
The school employs qualified and trained psychological counsellors for the benefit of all of our students. Their role is to encourage students' general well-being while providing a secure space for them to express their feelings and emotions. Students who are under the stress of appearing for boards and also navigate life as teenagers can approach the counseller for help. Having a sympathetic individual to be heard, understood, and think aloud within a counsellor can support students in their healing journey. In addition, the counsellor provides much-needed clarity in resolving their concerns and issues. It promotes self-exploration and self-understanding and provides students with the tools they need to address the challenges. Our counsellors provide individual and group counselling to students, as well as creating and facilitating student-centric activities and interventions for their overall development.
Career counselling assists each student in identifying their strengths and aptitudes in order to determine the best career route for them. A certified career counsellor helps Class X students with self-awareness, comprehending the world of work, developing career alternatives, and career preparation. The Promise Foundation administers an aptitude exam to students. Completed tests are delivered to their centre for scoring and report creation. Career reports are forwarded to careers co-ordinators, who have been trained to interpret each report in individual sessions with the students. An emphasis is placed upon the abilities that will assist the student in connecting personal interests and skills with career options.
As students prepare for their board exams, it is critical for their teachers and parents to stay informed about their progress and areas for improvement. This is easily accomplished through parent-teacher meetings. These meetings give both the teacher and the parent a chance to talk about the student's general progress. A positive parent-teacher relationship benefits not just the student but also the school. We hold frequent meetings at Sri Kumaran Public School to provide feedback on students' academic achievement and social behaviour. Parents can also meet teachers by appointment on working Saturdays and other school days.